Gray pays tribute to fallen Rockingham surfers

In February, seated in the Distinguished Visitor’s Gallery in Parliament House Canberra were, the Mexican Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Mr Armando Alvarez Reina and his Deputy Head of Mission, Mr. Víctor Manuel Treviño Escudero. They listened in solemn silence to speeches about the deaths of two young men.

On 21 November 2015, the lives of two West Australian families changed in the most unimaginable way when Adam Coleman and Dean Lucas, friends and both 33, were killed in Mexico.

Dean and Adam began their independent travels as 17 year olds in Indonesia. The boys met at Mandurah High School; they were keen surfing mates ready for adventure.

They, along with their friends, enjoyed several Indonesian trips and road journeys before heading on their separate global paths to adventure, love and learning.

The next 10 years saw many countries, friends and working experiences as Dean and Adam travelled the world, influenced by different cultures, cuisine and people, and in turn they left a path of influence and inspiration.

After an amazing Baja surfing experience, the men caught a ferry to the Mexican mainland where they were only a day away from Adam being re-united with Andrea, his Mexican girlfriend, and Dean only days away from flying to London to be with Josie, his English partner.

This is when Adam and Dean were murdered by robbers on a highway in Sinaloa. Their murders were brutal.

The section of road where they died is notorious for crime but is a toll road and the men probably felt safe enough. They were fluent in Spanish and were experienced travellers who felt comfortable in almost any surroundings. Adam and Dean were killed by men posing as police officers. We can only imagine Adam and Dean thought they were targets for bribery. It was a robbery gone wrong.

Adam and Dean’s families became aware of their disappearance and through the assistance of Josie and Andrea, the car, with the boys’ remains, was found. The families were informed of their death and the circumstances on 28 November 2015.

Mexican authorities quickly arrested 3 murder suspects and are currently pursuing others.

Support for the families by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, the Australian Federal Police and the West Australian Coroner’s Office, was immediate, personal and professional. This was the start of support which reached from Golden Bay and Rockingham to Los Angeles USA, and Sayulita in Mexico, and continues to this day.''''''

The Hon Julie Bishop MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs, The Hon Michael Keenan MP and the Australian Federal Police were outstanding in their support for the Lucas and Coleman/Cattermole families at the most sensitive of times. As was his Excellency Mr David Engel, the Australian Ambassador to Mexico.

Governor Mr Mario Lopez Valdez and Attorney General Marco Antonio Higuera Gómez from the State of Sinaloa also gave support to the families of Dean and Adam.

Mayor Miguel Enrique of Navolato provided generous help to the families. Mr John Borghetti and Virgin Airlines, GS holdings in Edmonton, Canada and many others came to the aid of the Coleman/Cattermole and Lucas families with generous gestures.

In happier times, Adam and Dean’s loved ones will return to explore beautiful Mexico, a wonderful country. The families will eat amazing food, surf incredible waves and most of all thank some special friends for helping them through a very difficult time. “We don’t want people to remember Adam and Dean as victims of crime, but as world citizens who loved life and everyone they met, and were loved in return.”

Dean’s family, from Golden Bay, Wendy, Kevin, Kim and Michelle share grief with Josie Cox. Adam Coleman’s family is devastated but he will be lovingly remembered by Zena and Andrew Cattermole of Rockingham, his sisters, Gemma, Sarah, Emily and Holly, his nieces and nephews and his girlfriend Andrea Gomez from Mexico.

Hon Gary Gray AO MP

Full text of speeches by Hon Gary Gray AO MP on condolence for Dean and Adam are on the Parliamentary Hansard website at http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Hansard/Search?display=true&Canned=true&speakerID=8W5